This is a podcast of a half hour radio show on WHRW 90.5 FM, "Atheists at the Table". A panel of atheists and theists talk about their views on recent news items and age old issues. Listen, live, at whrwfm.org, on Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 PM.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Thank you, everyone, for being with us here today.Now it's time for Godless Wisdom!Today’s Godless Wisdom comes to you from my ever questioning head.

People in the fundie world of Christianity give to the Church because supposedly God has said that if you are charitable there will be a reward which will come back to you many times over; however, when a non-religious person gives to those in need, they do it with no real thought of reward, except maybe the good feeling of knowing you've helped out.Now—who has the greater morals?

And that was Godless Wisdom.Next up we have a new Atheists at the Table segment!From the Pulpit!This is the point during the show when everyone gets a chance to go on a rant about something that's bothering them in the world of religion, faith, and superstition.Who's first?

Alright.Today I'd like to get up to the pulpit to preach out against the ubiquity of public prayer.Does it not say in Matthew 6:6, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”It doesn't matter what translation you go to, the words barely change, and the meaning remains strictly the same.There is no metaphor here, no mistaken context, except that perhaps you don't necessarily need to go into a room with a closed door—just do it privately.So what in God's name are all these people doing in church, praying?Praying on the streets?Praying on television?Ministers at the inauguration requesting millions of people to gather in one mighty prayer session!Where the hell is the consistency?Why do Christians keep asking me to pray with them?What is going on here?Is this not one of the most obscene affronts to God's word?Indeed, according to the Christian, this is God's word, since—guess who's talking—Jesus says it himself!Find it in a Red Letter bible and the words will be in red.These are the very words of Christ the Lord telling you to pray in secret!So I'd like it if from this day forth every honest Christian would refrain from asking me to pray with them.Go check it out yourself: Matthew 6:6.First book of the New Testament, sixth chapter.Keep your damn babbling away from me and show some freaking internal consistency and some respect for your own religion.

Now for the news.I'd quickly like to go back to something I've brought up on the past two shows.Measure Initiative 1040. This would be the proposed law in Washington State to make illegal “state use of public money or lands for anything that denies or attempts to refute the existence of a supreme ruler of the universe including, but not limited to, appropriations for displays, scientific endeavors, textbooks, instruction, and research projects.”Now, here comes the amusing part.Under a close rhetorical examination of the proposed measure, the religionists have damned themselves.The single letter/word “a” ruins everything for them.Indeed, churches are state sanctioned and any statement made in a Christian church that asserts Christianity as the one true religion, and therefore Yahweh as the one true god, then they have in turn denied the existence of, say, Vishnu.Vishnu is “a god.”Therefore, the Churches will be breaking the law.That hasn't stopped them before (let's not forget their unabashed support of candidates in the presidential race despite being non-profit organizations) but it does kind of amuse me a bit.

I love rhetoric.What do you guys make of this.

Next, from the Associated Press on Wednesday, March 4th.A nine year old Brazilian girl was raped by her stepfather and ended up pregnant with twins.80 pounds and 15 weeks pregnant, the girl's body could not handle one, let alone two children.Laws in Brazil allow for abortions in cases where the mother's life is threatened.Doctors decided that there was a serious risk to mother and fetus and decided to perform the abortion.The Catholic Archdiocese stepped in to complain about the abortion, saying that the girl should have simply continued carrying the fetuses to term and then received a cesarean section.A lawyer for the Catholic Church was quoted as saying, “It's the law of God: Do not kill.We consider this murder.”Well, if that's how you want to interpret it then make sure you outlaw meat, vegetables, Raid, and antibacterials, not to mention tumor removal, walking without sweeping in front of you, driving at a speed that could smash insects...shall I continue?

What do you guys think?

Next, from Oklahoma: Richard Dawkins is the target of a legal resolution to have the University of Oklahoma rescind their invitation for Dawkins to come speak at their institution.A piece of the resolution reads as follows:

“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representative strongly opposes the invitation to speak on the campus of the University of Oklahoma to Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, whose published statements on the theory of evolution and opinion about those who do not believe in the theory are contrary and offensive to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives encourages the University of Oklahoma to engage in an open, dignified, and fair discussion of the Darwinian theory of evolution and all other scientific theories which is the approach that a public institution should be engaged in and which represents the desire and interest of the citizens of Oklahoma.”

What do you guys think of this, the state trying to govern what a University does with its academics?

Finally we have an article from the Associated Press on March 3rd.East Brunswick, NJ.“High School Coach Marcus Borden used to bow his head and drop to one knee when his football team prayed. But the Supreme Court on Monday ended the practice when it refused to hear his appeal of a school district ban on employees joining a student-led prayer. The decision could add another restriction on prayer in schools, advocates said. The district established the ban in 2005 after parents complained that Borden, a coach at the school since 1983, sometimes led prayers at the Friday afternoon team pasta dinner or in the locker room before games. Borden said he wanted to show respect for the students engaged in prayer by bowing his head silently and dropping to one knee.”